Slices
Prepare
Pray: ‘Lord, I release to you any pressure or tension I feel. I calm my busy mind to hear your word to me.’
Bible passage
14 Then Laban said to him, ‘You are my own flesh and blood.’
Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, ‘Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.’
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder one was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’
19 Laban said, ‘It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.’ 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.’
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?’
26 Laban replied, ‘It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder one. 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.’
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
Explore
This messy story of deceit, sexual desire, exploitation and betrayal does not make for easy reading. The idea of women being used as bargaining pieces is deeply disturbing. Jacob’s virtual slavery makes us uncomfortable. But despite significant cultural differences, this is a world we know. Misogyny and objectifying of women are still with us. Slavery can still be found in various forms. Most of us will have experienced exploitation or betrayal in some form or another.
This incident reminds us that life in a broken world populated by fallen human beings will always be messy. But this was never God’s intention. He created men and women to be companions sharing together in caring for his creation. Jesus and Paul give new dignity and status to women. In the new community of God’s people there is neither slave nor free (Galatians 3:28), preparing the way for the eventual abolition of slavery, admittedly not yet fully achieved. In contrast to a world of lies and manipulation, Jesus models truth and integrity.
Above all, through the mess of today’s reading, God is working out his promise to Abraham, and remains faithfully active in the confusion of our individual lives and the brokenness of our world.
Respond
Can you think of anyone caught up in a web of lies and manipulation? Pray for them now.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Job 39,40; Philippians 2
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for holidays happening this week – Great Dayz, Activ8, Lagger 1 and Spot/Make the Prayers Difference. Pray for the young leaders who are serving on those events, that they would grow in their faith as they see God at work during the week.
